To improve on his modest shooting percentages of a season ago, Cal sophomore guard Tyrone Wallace went to the gym in his hometown of Bakersfield every day last summer and stayed there until he made 300 jump shots from a variety of areas on the floor.

"That's a lot of shots," he said. "It's repetition. I was in the gym form-shooting and spot-shooting and being consistent with my form. I tried to correct the little things. Now my shot is beginning to look better. Now I don't just hope it goes in."

An improved Wallace was at his best for Cal's Pac-12 opener at Stanford on Thursday. It's not a stretch to suggest that the Bears might have started 0-1 in conference play if not for the contributions of Wallace.

He scored 14 of his career-high 20 points in the first half and also had five rebounds and four steals as the Bears posted a 69-62 victory. Of significance for Wallace was his shooting: 6-for-13 overall and 4-for-7 from three-point range.

"It makes me feel good," he said. "I feel like I'm making progress. It definitely shows that what I'm doing is working. If I continue to work on my shot like I'm doing, the numbers will go up."

Wallace will look to continue his improved shooting when the Bears play No. 17 Oregon in Eugene on Thursday night, followed by Oregon State in Corvallis on Saturday.

As a freshman, Wallace's shooting was deficient, both in form and function. Although he could contribute in other ways as a quick 6-foot-5 player - he averaged 4.4 rebounds per game and had 87 assists and 26 steals - his shooting kept him from being a more complete and respected player.

"It didn't take a genius to figure it out," head coach Mike Montgomery said. "The game involves shooting the ball in the hole. He knew he needed to shoot the ball better. He was very erratic. ... I'd tell him, you're open for a reason. They want you to shoot."

And why not? Wallace hit just 34.2 percent of his shots from the floor and 22.4 from three-point range.

On his form shots, Wallace concentrated on keeping his elbow in and maintaining a consistent motion and follow-through. For spot-shooting, he'd hit 10 shots from one location on the floor before moving to the next, usually hitting shots inside the three-point arc before stepping back beyond the arc.

The work is paying off. In his second season as a starter for the Bears (10-4), Wallace is shooting 46.7 percent overall (57-for-122) and 33.9 (19-for-56) on three-pointers.

Wallace is perhaps Montgomery's most versatile player. Wallace normally starts at off guard opposite Justin Cobbs at the point, but he can bring the ball upcourt and distribute it as well. Wallace also has spent time at the '3,' or wing, position, and in a crunch he can pretend he's a '4.'

"He's got size, which allows him to play the 3," Montgomery said. "He's always been a good rebounder from the guard position. He should be going to the glass. He fits into the 3 pretty easily. It helps to have guys like that."